Tips for choosing the best home-made wine ingredients:

Fruits must be ripe, but not over-ripe. A few shriveled grapes or black currants are unlikely to harm a brew. In the case of larger fruits such as plums, the doubtful ones should be taken out.

The choice of roots (beetroot, parsnips, etc.) for wine-making purposes should not be dismissed so readily. The best, (or even the only) roots suitable for wine-making are those that are old and shriveled. Parsnips that have been stored throughout the winter or left in the soil are at their best for our purpose in March, as are old potatoes purchased in June when the new ones are coming in. They are ideal if they are well shriveled and/or sprouting. (Be sure to break off the roots before using them.)

These old roots contain less starch than the fresher ones, and we do not want starch in wines because it slows down the clearing process. Besides this, when old roots are used, they flavor the wine less, and it is not in the least bit earthy.

It is a mistake to believe that using additional ingredients, (such as less water, or more sugar/yeast), than is indicated in the recipes, will produce a more potent wine. The strength of wine is decided by the volume of alcohol in which the yeast can live and continue to do its work, and not on the quantity of any ingredients. Too much sugar makes the wine far too sweet. More yeast makes no difference at all, simply because it cannot make more alcohol than it can live in. Age makes very little difference to the alcohol content of wines. Too many ingredients will produce a liquid of too high a specific gravity and a liquid containing too many solids per part of water, (in other words a liquid which is too thick) and this will take a very long time to clear.

Because of this, you should never use more ingredients than the recipe indicates.

About Straining:

Fine muslin is best for straining mixtures produced when making root wines. Tie one piece on the tub - allowing sufficient sag - and place a second piece over this.

This top piece containing the solids can be lifted off without letting them fall into the brew. Jelly bags or similar things made of suitable material are needed for fruit juices, as will be seen in the recipes.

About Sugar & Yeast:

You should always use white sugar, and make certain that all the sugar is dissolved before adding anything (like wheat or raisins) to the brew. If all the sugar is not dissolved, the yeast might not ferment properly & some of the sugar could settle in the form of syrup and be left in the lees when they are thrown away. As a result of this, the wine could turn out quite sharp. With a lot of other ingredients in the brew, it is quite impossible to tell whether all the sugar is dissolved or not.

Baker's yeast is all we need during this stage. This can be purchased at your local bakery. Yeast is added at the rate of one ounce per 1, 2 or 3 gallons.

Do not add the yeast too early...as a temperature well below boiling point will destroy the yeast organism and fermentation will not take place.

About the Author

James Wilson owns & operates www.e-homewinemaking.com, a site providing wine-making tips, tricks and techniques. If you're interested in making your own wine, visit www.e-homewinemaking.com today and sign up for the FREE wine-making mini-course!

People Wine and More

Discover Wall Mounted Wine Racks


Wall Mounted Wine Racks
Wall mounted wine racks are among the safest, most affordable wine racks available. Because of the weights of the bottle and t...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

People Wine Items For Viewing

Gravity Leather Wine Bottle Holder - Black

Modern art, our Gravity Leather Wine Bottle Holder displays your wine for all to see in a unique way. Just insert the neck of your wine into this black genuine Italian leather wine bottle holder and watch as it defies gravity to your guests amazement. An elegant and unique way to display your favorite wine bottles, perfectly balanced in mid-air!

Customer Review: Awesome gift

It's great for displaying an expensive bottle of wine, or an inexpensive bottle for that matter.
More product information

Exquisite designers made this beautiful collection. Like dining in the midst of a beautifully Garden. The Thymeless Garden Collection soothes and inspires. The Stylishly placed spring of fresh garden/flowers encircled by graceful styles of flowers. This set provides an elegant backdrop for every day use as well as special occasions. You can show off this amazing collection any day or occasion. This product is 100% hand painted and pure ceramic. This is not stoneware, Fine ceramic.durable enough to use everyday, even with kids. Put in the dishwasher or microwave 100% safe.6.5"tall, also utinsels included total of 5
More product information

More product information

Cask bottle holder with matching topper is an impressive display for your prized bottle of vino. Tasteful setting features three old-fashioned wine barrels surrounded by luscious bunches of grapes. Coordinating cork topper, too! Resin, 9 1/2 x 4 x 6".
More product information

The perfect pair for any party. Cool martini glasses that'll chill your martinis with panache. Just place crushed ice in the base and pour a martini in the cone-shaped top glass. Shaken or stirred, these martini chillers keep your martinis icy cold to the last sip. Stirrers not included. Lead-free crystal. Mouth blown. Not recommended for dishwasher use. Size: 4"H, 4 oz.

Customer Review: Outstanding, as long as they last...

My wife and I have a Martini, weekend evenings. I swill mine quickly, but she can't do that without inducing "nap-time". So we got a pair of these so that she could take her time and still enjoy a cold, undiluted Martini. They worked great! She could take a couple of hours to finish a drink, and it was still icy and refreshing. However, after a few months of use, the rim of the lower glass, for the ice, broke off in a ring! I don't know if it was thermal stress or what, but they both did it. Regardless, I'm about to order a second pair. At under $15 for a pair, I can afford to replace them every year. Prost!
More product information

Labels: Wine Expert, Wine Facts

Posted by Patrick Ramsey | 0 comments